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Suicide support group offers lifeline to regional Australia

BRENDAN TREMBATH: The biggest killer of people under the age of 35 is a topic not often spoken about in regional Australia. It's suicide.

But a community on the border of Victoria and New South Wales is speaking up about it to hopefully prevent more deaths and help bereaved families.

A leading Australian mental health expert endorses what they're doing in Albury-Wodonga and says it could be copied elsewhere.

Emma Younger has the story

EMMA YOUNGER: In mid-March 2011, darkness descended on the lives of an Albury family.

It was the month 15-year-old Mary Baker took her life with little warning to her parents.

Her father, Stuart, remembers the morning vividly.

STUART BAKER: Probably about 4.30 - 5:00am, she got up. I saw her light go on and off. The next morning, I got to work, heard there'd been a suicide from a local bridge and immediately I had a horrible sinking feeling and a fear, I rang Nette to see if Mary was there and she wasn't.

EMMA YOUNGER: Mary was the youngest of three kids.

At the age of 12, she developed a chronic eating disorder which she battled with until her death. The Bakers then experienced what many family's do after a loved one takes their own life.

Mary's mother Annette says her daughter's death was followed by silence, with their friends and community fearful of talking about suicide.

ANNETTE BAKER: It's quite infuriating. I know that it's hard for them, but it's harder for us. I think we're inadequate and we need to work it out.

EMMA YOUNGER: Annette has made it her mission to break the taboo haunting the issue of suicide.

After taking their story to the local newspaper, the family was approached by many others who'd been affected by suicide but unable to talk openly.

In a bid to create a space for that conversation, the Bakers have organised an evening for the community to come together and talk.

STUART BAKER: I think for the survivors of suicide it just gives them a chance to know that they're not alone and maybe to feel comfortable about discussing it, or even if it just moves their grief on a little.

EMMA YOUNGER: A 2012 Griffith University report found Australia's regional communities face rates of suicide about 20 to 30 per cent higher than in metro areas.

Former Australian of the Year and professor of youth mental health, Patrick McGorry, will speak at Friday night's event.

Professor McGorry says despite a widely held belief that talking about suicide will encourage copy cats, it can actually reduce the number of deaths.

PATRICK MCGORRY: I think what we can show is the terrible effects on those left behind and create more disincentives for actually taking this step and alternative pathways to actually seek help from much more acceptable types of services like headspace, and Orygen and EPPIC - these sorts of services that are actually developed especially for young people.

EMMA YOUNGER: The Albury-Wodonga community has been campaigning to get just that - a headspace to give young people with mental health issues a place to go.

Professor McGorry says Albury is one of the few regional communities leading a national push for a new approach to youth mental health treatments.

PATRICK MCGORRY: It has to come from the grassroots, from the public and the communities. Then I think governments, our leaders will actually respond to that. They're very sensitive to what the communities are actually seeing as important and I think this is a very important issue for the population all around Australia.

EMMA YOUNGER: That couldn't be felt more keenly than by the Bakers, who'll continue their campaign in honour of their daughter, Mary.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: Emma Younger reporting.

And if you need help or know someone who does, you can contact Lifeline - 13 11 14. That's 13 11 14.